Liquid-display fountain



Nov. 25, 1930. F. G. STANFORD ET AL 1 LIQUID DISPLAY FOUNTAIN Filed Sept. 10, 1929 Patented Novi25, 19 30 ronnnsr NIT DSTAT PATENT OFFIC l a t a G. srnnroannnncuir BAKER, or nos AnGEnEs; CALIFORNIA; sAIn henna nssicnon roenonen irnY Ann, or nos-enemas, CALIFORNIA LIQUID-DISPLAY roenmml Application filed september '10, 1929. Serial No. 391,612.

- qThis invention relates to a liquid display apparatus ofthewtype set forth in applica nous for United States Letters Patents Serial Number 237,415, filed December 3, 1927, Serial Number 250,754, filed-January 31, 1928, and Serial No. 303,947, filed September 4,1928 and embodied in a'copending appli cation filed aseptv 9, 1929, Serial Number 391,444, which include reservoir for aliq- Tuid to be displayed with which is associated V a transparent di-splaycontainer and a means whereby a liquid; in the reservoir is caused to be delivered tojthe container frornthe resa i -ervoir.andconfinedinsaidicontainer for'an i anduwherebyth'e' liquid while 'inithe con-- tainer will. be subjected to agitation and maintained in a state ofturbulence. The

interval and then be discharged therefrom,

apparatus; includes in its ensemble a float Valve for controllingaccumulation of liquid in the container and its discharge there i from by alternately closing and opening a downwardlyextending mouth on the container.-

An object of the present invention is to provide a guidelnountlng for thefloat valve associated Witha seat fol-the valve adapted the liquid be caused to be intermittently re to be collectively affixed to the container,

which! is 'so constructed and arranged as to insure proper seating of the valve and thereby effect a'propersealing action, and also alfordaliini-tation of the n ovement'fof; the

valve. i j a j i Anotherfobjectisto providea liquid display apparatus in Which a volume ofliquid contained i111 a reservoir may be: causedtov be ejected' upwardly through a nozzle into adisplaycontailier by the action of a continu ous suction nduced in the container by the continuous evacuat on o'l a r therefrom and delivered {I'onn the display-container to the reservoir; i v i Another objectlis to liquiddisplay apparatusin which the liquid accumulating inithe container will be maintained in aistateof turbulence both during its delivery to the container and its discharge there from.

Another object is to provide adisplaya paratus of the above characterin which the timing of the inflow and outflow of the liquid relatively'to the display container is antoinatically controlled by variations oflliqi uid level-an a reservoir so as to obviate the nism. v a

Another object isto providean auxiliary inploynient of extraneous timing Inechareservoir for collecting overflow fro'rnthe container including means operable to place the display apparatusout of-ope'ration and thereby serve as a Warningto attendants that the auxiliary reservoir requires e nptyii'ig, thereby minimizing the possibilitybf loss of the display liqu'i'd b-y' overfi ow d v the 'a'uxiliary reservoir; j j j Another object is to raia alias-a gether with such other objects and advani tages as may subsequently appear, the invepg V tlOILI'GSldS in the parts and in the cOmbina tion, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated by way of example in the ac company-I ing drawings, in which: i j l v Figure 1 is a vlew of the display apparacrating means in diagram Figs. 3, 4,5, 6 and are dialgrains illus .tus as seen in sideelevationv showing the op- 1 trating the cycle of operation oflthe ape paratus.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section as viewed f on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2; i

i 9 's view in horizontal section as seen on the line 9 -9of Fig, 2"; i Fig. lOis' a"detailin section taken onthe "Referringto the drawings more specifically, A indicates afreservoir for containinga ingenclosing the reservoir, 0 denotes a dis- "play container associated with the reservoir A, and D indicatesan actuator. u The reservoirA islhere shown as comprisliquid to be displayed, B designates a housing a ar which is open at its upper end, and the housing B is shown as embodying side walls 11 supporting a top wall 12 having an opening 13 arranged over the open upper end of the reservoir. The display container C embodies a transparent or semi-transparent globular body 14 having a neck portion 15 and which container is inverted over the reservoir A with the neck portion 15 .projecting through the opening 13 and into the reservoir; the container seating on the mar-- gin of the opening 13 in the housin top wall 12 and the mouth of the neck 10 opening downwardly into the reservoir.

Formed on the end of the neck 15 is an outwardly projecting marginal flange 16 and extending over the mouth or open end of the neck 15 is a plate 17 formed with a plurality of apertures 18; the plate 17 being secured in place by means of a clamp including an annulus 19 which encircles the plate 17 and has an inturned flange 20 arranged to bear against the under side of the plate 17; the annulus 19 being secured to the neck 15 by means of a series of clamps each of which includes a stem 21 which passes through the annulus 1.9 and has an inturned upper end portion 22 which projects over and seats on the upper faces of the flange 16.

The lower end of the stem 21 passes through a disk 23 spaced below the plate 17 and held in spaced relation thereto byspacing tubes 24 which encircle the stems 21; the lower end portions of the stems 21 being threaded and having nuts 25 screwed thereon whereby the plate 17, annulus 19, disk 23 and spacers 24 may be clamped together and to the container G with the plate 17 seating on a gasket 26 interposed between the upper face of the plate and the end margin of the neck 15.

Projecting centrally through the plate 1.7 and aflixed to the latter is an open ended tube 27, the upper end of which projects into the container C and is converged into a nozzle 28 opening to the interior of the container; the lower end portion of the tube projecting downwardly below the disk 23 which disk formed with an opening 29 to receive the tube 27. The lower end of the tube 27 terminates and opens adjacent the bottom of the reservoir A.

Encircling the portion of the tube 27 extending between the disk 23 and the apertured plate 17 is an annular float 30 formed of cork or other suitable buoyant material, the upper surface of which is faced with a resilient pad 31 preferably formed of rubber or rubber composition, which pad is adapted, when the float is in an uppermost position, to seat on the under side of the plate 17 as indicated in dotted lines a in Fig. 2 and thereby eflect closing of the apertures 18. The plate 17 constitutes a valve seat, the float 30 with the pad 31 constitutes a valve cooperating with the seat, the tube 27 constitutes a guide for the valve in directing it to and from its seat, and the disk 23 serves as a stop to limit downward movement of the valve.

Leading from the upper portion of the container C and opening to the interior of the latter is an air conduit 32 which communicates with the intake side of a pump 33 constitutingthe actuator D; this pump being of a conventional rotary type and embodying a rotor, not shown, operable to effect evacuation of air from the container C to create a partial vacuum in the latter.

As a means for collecting any overflow of liquid or vapors from the container C, an auxiliary reservoir 34 is interposed between the container G and the pump 33; the conduit 32 having a section which leads from the container C and opens through a cap 35 sealing the reservoir 34 and having another section which affords a communication between the jar 34 and the intake of the pump through the cap 35. The cap 35 is formed with an opening 36 from which downwardly extends a tube 37 opening to the interior of the reservoir 34, and extending through the tube 37 is a stem 38 on the upper end of which is a valve head 39 adapted to seaton a gasket 40 surrounding the margin of the o )enin 36 to normall close said 0 enin A float 41 is mounted on the lower end of the stem within the reservoir 34 and is adapted to be lifted by accumulation of liquid in the reservoir to effect lifting of the valve head 39 to uncover the opening 36.

In the operation of the invention, the reservoir A is filled with a liquid E to a level above the mouth of the containiner C which normally disposes the float valve 30 in its seated position against the under side of the plate 17 to close communication between the container and reservoir as shown in Fig. 3. By placing the pump 33 in operation it acts to effect continuous evacuation of air from the container C through the conduit 32 thus setting up a continuous suction in the latter which will operate to initially draw liquid from the reservoir A upwardly through the tube 27 and to induct it into the container C through the nozzle 28 in the form of a fountain as shown in Fig. 4. The partial vacuum created in the container C by the evacuation of air therefrom is such as to hold the float 30 against the under side of the plate 17 until the level of the liquid in the reservoir A falls below the lower end of the tube 27 and thereby open the latter to atmosphere and thus break the vacuum in the container.

The liquid flowing into the container rises in the latter over the discharge end of the nozzle 28 so that the incoming stream will then be caused to pass through the body of liquid in the container so that the incoming stream of the liquid will be projected through and above the rising level of the liquid in the won containeras shown in Fig. 5 This incoming stream maintains the liquid in the-container under state of highly active turbulence, the incoming stream flowing continuously into the container until the liquid in the reservoir fallsto, apoint adjacent thelower end ofthetube 27 as shownin Fig. 6, 'Whereuponair will be drawn through the tube 27 a and through =the-volume of liquid in the con tainer so as tof break the partial vacuumin the latter whereupon'theweight"of the accumulated liquid in the container will cause I the float remove downwardly anldfthereby volume of liquid'in' the container under a high state. of continuous agitation The perforated plate: serves to retard discharge of liquidfrom the container. 7 3i i The liquid flowingback intothe reservoir as it rises thereinwill act to, re-elevate the float 3O toits container sealing position as shown in Fig 3 whereupon the cycle of operationis repeated; During this operation such vapors or liquid asmay'be drawn off from the container C through the conduit 32 will be collected in the auxiliaryreservoir 34 and when such overflow liquid accumulates in the reservoir 34 sufliciently to lift the float 31, the valve head 39 will'he lifted so as to uncover the opening 36 and thereby open the conduit 32 to the atmosphere thus terminating evacuation of air from the container and placing the display element outof operation. This serves to prevent overflow of the auxiliary reservoir as it terminates the drawlng off of vapors froin'the container and necessitates emptying of this reservoir 1n order to restore the apparatus to an operating condition. The auxiliary reservoir 34 also serves as a trap to prevent the overflow liquid from the container C from being drawn into the reservoir, a dlsplay container having a down- 115 pump 33.

The discontinuance of the operation of the display element serves as, a tell-taleto indicate to an attendant thattheauxiliary reser- V 'voir requires emptying.

By mounting the tube 27,float valve and its seat directly on the'lower end of the container C and guiding the float valve on the tube as here set forth, proper seating of the valve and closing of the container putlet is insured, and a simple and easily installed mounting of the valve, seat and guide is afforded.

We claim: i g j 1. In a liquid display apparatus, a liquid reservoir, a display container havinga downneck, and a float valve guided on said'tube.

wardly opening neck projecting into said reservoir, means for maintaining air pressurein said container less than air pressure externally thereof, a tube leading from said reservoirinto said container, avalve seat on the end of said neck surrounding said tube, a float valve'guided onsaid tube, anda stop limiting downward movement of said float valve carried onsaid container. I a

"2. In a liquid display apparatus, 'aliquid reservoir, a display container having adownwardly opening neck projecting into said, reservoir, means for maintaining air pressure in said container less than air pressure externally thereof, a valve seat carried on tho end of said neck, a tube afliXed to said seat,

projecting upwardly into said container and projecting downwardly into said'reservoir, a. v clamp detachably holding said seaton said 3. In a liquid display apparatus, a liquid reservoir, a display container having a downwardly opening neck projecting into said. reservoir, means for maintainingair pres sure in said container less than airr'pressure externally thereof,'a valve seatcarried on the endof said neck, a tubeaflix'ed to said. seat projecting upwardly into said container and projecting downwardly into said reservoir, a clamp deta neck, a float valve guidedon said tube, and; a

stop. engaged by said clamp spaced below said valve seat for limiting downwardmove? ,ment ofsaid float valve. i

4. In a liquid displayapparatus, a liquid 11. 6

reservoir, a display container having a downwardly opening neck leading into said resers voifr, means for maintaining air pressure in said container less" than air pressure exter- V nally thereof, a flange on said-neck, an aper- 1 tured plate extending over the open end of said neck, a tube aflixed to said plate eX- tending therethrough opening upwardly into said container and open ng downwardly 1nto said reservoir, a clamp engaging said flange 1 demountably afiixing said plate tosaid con- 'ta1ner,'and a float valvejgulcled on sald tube beneathsaid plate:

5. In :a liquid 1 display apparatus," a liquid ward'lyopening neck leading. into said reservoir, means formaintainingair pressure in said container less than-air'pressure externally thereof,=,a flange on said neck, an apertured plate extending over the open end of 130 1 said neck, 'a tube afixed to said plate eX- beneath said plate, and a stop engaged by,

said clamp for limiting downward movement 6. In a liquid display apparatus,ga liquid] 0 chably holdingsaid seat. on said 395 4- 1,7eae44 reservoir, a display container having a clownwardly opening neck projecting into said reservoir formed with a marginal flange, means for maintaining air pressure in said container less than air pressure externally thereof, an apertured plate extending over the opening of said neck, a ring encircling said plate having a flange projecting therebeneath, a disk spaced below said plate, spacing tubes interposed between said plate and disk, stems projecting through said tubes and through said plate and disk having inturned upper ends engaging said flange, nuts screwed on said stems, said stems and nuts operable to clamp said plate and disk in spaced relation and to detachably secure them to said container, a tube leading through said plate and disk opening upwardly into said container and opening downwardly into said reservoir, and a float valve guided on said tube between said plate and disk.

7. In a liquid display apparatus, a liquid reservoir, a display container having a downwardly opening neck projecting into said reservoir formed with a marginal flange, means for maintaining air pressure in said container less than air pressure externally thereof, an apertured plate extending over the opening of said neck, a ring encircling said plate having a flange projecting therebeneath, a disk spaced below said plate, spacing tubes interposed between said plate and disk, stems projecting through said tubes and through said plate and disk having inturned upper ends engaging said. flange, nuts screwed on said stems, said stems and nuts operable to clamp said plate and disk in spaced relation and to detachably secure them to said container, a tube leading through said plate and disk opening upwardly into said container and opening downwardly into said reservoir, and a float valve guided on said tube between said plate and disk, said tube being aflixed to and carried by said apertured plate.

8. In a liquid display apparatus, a liquid reservoir, a display container having a clownwardly opening neck leading into said reservoir, a tube leading from said reservoir upwardly into said container, a valve seat on said neck, a float valve guided on said tube operable by liquid in said reservoir to seat on said valve seat and then close communication between said reservoir and. said container, and means for efiecting continuous evacuation of air from said container.

9. In a liquid display apparatus, a liquid reservoir, a display container having a clownwardly opening neck leading into said reservoir, a tube leading from said reservoir upwardly into said container, a valve seat on said neck, a float valve guided on said tube operable by liquid in said reservoir to seat on said valve seat and then close communication between said reservoir and said container, a conduit leading from said container,

an' air evacuating pump having an intake with which said conduit connects, said pump and conduit serving as a means for efiecting continuous evacuating of air from said container, and an auxiliary reservoir interposed in said conduit for receiving liquid drawn ofi' from said container by said pump.

10. In a liquid display apparatus, a liquid reservoir, a display container having a clownwardly opening neck leading into said reservoir, a tube leading from said reservolr upwardly into said container, a valve seat on said neck, a float valve guided on said tube operable by liquid in said reservoir to seat on said valve seat and then close communication between said reservoir and said container, a conduit leading from said container, an air evacuating pump having an intake with which said conduit connects, said pump and conduit serving as a means for effecting continuous evacuating of air from said container, an auxiliary reservoir interposed in said eonduit for receiving liquid drawn ofif from said container by said pump, and means for interrupting evacuation of air from said container actuated by accumulated liquid in said auxiliary reservoir.

FORREST G. STANFGRD. GUY BAKER. 

